Download the FREE Discover Minnesota Valley Game and Virtual Sign Apps before you arrive to the Refuge! Learn about the National Wildlife Refuge System and the Minnesota Valley NWR. When you visit, play the nature trivia game which will activate once you arrive at the Bloomington Visitor Center, Rapids Lake Visitor Center or Louisville Swamp Unit.  Share photos, field tips, and score high points and virtual badges! Available for iPhone and Android. Search "Discover Nature Apps" in your appstore, then load the game module for the location you plan to visit: Bloomington, Rapids Lake or Louisville Swamp.

Click to download the Game App for Android

Click to download the Game App for iPhone

Click to download the Virtual Sign App for Andriod

Click to download the Virtual Sign App for iPhone

One of the world's most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over 400,000 scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What's more, by recording and sharing your observations, you'll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature. iNaturalist is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society.

Find iNaturalist in the Google Play Store

Find iNaturalist in the Apple App Store

A real-time, online checklist program, eBird has revolutionized the way that birders access and report information about birds. Record your Refuge birding observations using the eBird app or online at www.ebird.org. Join others in an international network of eBird users and learn more about birds, their calls, and habits to help you be a better birder.

Find eBird in the Google Play Store

Find eBird in the Apple App Store

eBird maintains a beautiful illustrated checklist of birds found at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. This list includes bar charts of when to view the birds as well as sounds and photographs by eBird users.

Check out our birding page which links directly with eBird and shows you the birds sighted within the last 30 days by eBird users by unit.

Join the Litterati - a global community that is eradicating litter one piece at a time. Track your impact as you tag and upload photos of the litter you collect.

By combining technology, social awareness and art, Litterati is building the Digital Landfill - a photo gallery showcasing different pieces of litter being picked up worldwide, and the overall impact of the movement. Geo-tagging provides insight into problem areas and highlights the most active Litterati communities. Keyword tags identify the most commonly found brands and products.

Litterati will use this to work with companies and organizations to find environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions.

Find the Litterati app on the Google Play Store

Find the Litterati app on the Apple App Store